Joy is an important biblical concept, and ought to gain more attention than it does. It is more meaningful than its pleasant, modest reputation affords. We refer to joy at Christmas even putting the three letters in ribbons, usually red, on Christmas trees, or along the wall. We may catch it when a child exults over a toy. Joy becomes a toy at Christmas, for small children, and vicariously with them for adults. Joy is sung at Christmas, and often put away with yule trimmings. Bills will follow. Joy is a touch of heaven to us.
We might wonder about joy. If I go down the street with solemn, even troubled, mien, the passers-by accept that solemnity as the normal context of pedestrian life. However, if I seem animated, and greet persons with lightness of spirit (as I do), I am looked at as a bit off. I am not normal. I feel like sharing my joyful feelings with others, but I may reign myself in. I am careful to notice the cultural dangers I represent – especially if family members roll their eyes. I had joyful banter with strangers as I shuffled up the aisle on an airplane, banter overheard by a number of persons in surrounding areas. The smiles and momentary flashing eyes above the rims of magazines informed me that others were investigating the communication. Later, at the destination airport, I was surprised to be stopped by a stranger from the plane. On exit we stood in conversation. He quickly recounted my off-hand joviality at take-off. Then he said, in summary: Can you help me do that? I carry the burden of nothing and everything. I have no courage. You seem sincere. This kind of poignant interruption in my life has occurred often enough to be worthy for review. Some have even referred to noting my prayer grace in restaurants. They seem to be looking for joy.
Often persons appear to me to be trudging down a hill to a concentration camp. Mankind was made to be free of even his or her circumstances – so to turn sorrow into joy. There are good reasons for having joy – reasons we can understand: 1) -God is a loving person and will relate to anyone inviting him in; 2) -life is a gift, to be enjoyed by persons of reflective thought and feeling; and, 3) -joy improves fellowship with others, especially when presence enhances worth for those in fellowship. (Note the Bible text above.) Joy is an avenue of fellowship offering that feeling of self-worth to those receiving it. Of course, the first one is the main one, the lasting spiritual one – always for us to remember that God assists and preserves our joys when they are rightly generated. One’s faith brings joy in that God has, for the person, attenuated the threat of sin and the grave. In the second, the purpose of life that God respects is the work of his hand, accepted by us, his beneficiaries. We exult in God’s creativity. He respects that. The third seems easy to prove. Just spend an hour with a grouch. This torture gives us even larger appreciation for joy.
One of the exasperations of my life is sometimes to feel incompetent to demonstrate God’s joy. I know joy is present, and that a main reason why I must hold much of it as a private context is because so many persons may misrepresent me as unrealistic if I try to communicate it. I might be considered naive, even ignorant if I do. Don’t I know there are wars, economic downturns, natural disasters, violence, crime, sickness and death? According to the Esther narrative above, when Israel in captivity had been rescued from Haman’s plotting through Divine control of events, they turned to feasting, strengthening their relationships, and giving to the poor. Even then they had problems yet to be addressed, especially their servitude in Babylon. The imagination is rich with what joy means in thankfulness, in service, in the every-days of life. I chose this date for joy to remind those who read the Page that it was just over a month ago that the community was bright with joy. Now, in the middle of a Minnesota winter I see persons back in their ways of trudging through life, until they unpack the trimmings at the outset of our next winter reminding them of the joy that visited a dismal period in the history of a community long ago when there was born the Christ child. I lift from Luke’s Gospel, 2:10 – I bring you good tidings of great joy. It was, as we are informed, for all people – not just for shepherds, or Magi, or Mary and Joseph, perhaps for the innkeeper, but for all people. Your name and mine are on the list of all people. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020